In a transition from a house to a home, many critical things take place. The space, parameters and monetary value often make up the definition of a house—whether it be a HDB flat or semi-detached house. However, it’s definitely more complex when you’re talking about a home. The adage goes: “Home is where the heart is”—which means it’s dependent on the people that are living in it and what they choose to make of it. There is no fixed formula nor is there a rulebook for cultivating and building a home.
In our interior series titled ‘What’s in my home’, we profile living spaces in Singapore that are specially curated by individuals from all walks of life. Not only are they aspirational to fawn over, they are stemmed from unique design facets sourced and dreamed up by these homeowners. From unconventional floor-plans to vintage rugs and custom-made furniture, we prodded them on their insider tips and recommendations, as well as uncovering the story behind the home they have built for themselves.
This month, we got Alicia and Matthew of @thewoodyhome to share their story. They share their HDB flat with two ginger kittens, Peanut and Butter, who are frequently found draped upon the plethora of custom and vintage pieces located within their home; a space teeming with greenery and texture abound. Below, via Alicia, we get to know the couple’s inspiration behind @thewoodyhome, her favourite features and interior recommendations.
Alicia’s personal picks:
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We would describe my home as…
earthy and warm, with a dash of colour.
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This could not have been accomplished without…
us! As well as the help of Levonne and Chermaine, our interior designers from Ethereall.
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We were inspired by…
the shopfronts in Tokyo and Taiwan. The combination of stained wood, glass and warm lighting is something that we wanted to replicate in our home. The occasional bright colours were also inspired by our honeymoon trip to India—we fell in love with the city’s colour palette as well as architecture, and decided to introduce them as accents throughout the house.
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Our favourite feature of the home…
would be the wooden window frames in the study room. The frames were stained by hand, and we were thankful enough to get hold of the traditional brass levers as fittings. It reminds us of our childhood years in school, and it also happens to be the single most difficult piece to photograph in the house.
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The most recent addition to the home are…
our two ginger kittens, Peanut & Butter!
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The oldest piece of furniture here is…
our teak cabinet from Naturalis Historia. They make custom furniture using reclaimed teak from old houses, and the wood used to make this piece is from a house that is almost 200 years old.
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You’ll usually find us…
at the living room. It is our favourite place to unwind after a long day at work, lounging on the couch, and the cats usually take turns to nap there as well.
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Something we couldn’t live without in the home is…
our trusty IKEA Frosta stools. They function like a workhorse—plant stands, coffee table, foot stool and an extra seat for guests.
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We got lucky with…
this massive specimen sized Monstera. I got it for a steal a day before New Year’s Eve in 2020, and it is currently getting too big for the house.
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What we learnt from the design process is…
it is okay to make some mistakes and change your mind. Designing your first home is always exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time, but it allows you to do the things that make you truly make you happy. Inspiration comes in phases and most importantly, it is always ever evolving along with you.
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We love my home because…
it is a collection of memories and a reflection of ourselves. It’s a constant work in progress, and it continues to evolve with us over time. It’s our safe haven, and a place where we can truly be ourselves and feel “right at home”—literally.
